Mature Life Features editor Cecil Scaglione has encountered countless celebrities and colorful characters as a reporter, columnist, photo editor and editor with the Sarnia Observer, Kitchener-Waterloo Record, Windsor Star and Toronto Telegram in Canada and the Detroit News and San Diego Union in the United States. His body of work ranges from a Canadian Centennial history book to by-lines and photos in publications and websites around the globe.

Honors in each of the past six decades include Canadian journalism awards for humor writing and a Great Lakes pollution series, an International Airline Editors Forum unparalleled triple sweep for “Most Improved Publication,” “Best Magazine Design – Layout,” and “Best Overall Magazine,” and the San Diego Press Club’s “Excellence in Journalism” Best-of-Show as well as several first-place plaques for daily-living, in-house, free-lance, business, and travel writing, among others.

He is a University of Missouri Business and Economics Reporting Davenport Fellow and San Diego Press Club honorary life member and first two-term past president.

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Igor Lobanov-Rostovsky, Mature Life Features travel editor, has covered a wide range of topics, including travel, business, science, and medicine, as a writer, editor, and photojournalist.

He has written more than 1,000 travel articles and columns for national, regional, and local magazines and newspapers.

Between visits to more than 65 countries, he and his wife, Silvia, co-authored a book on choosing a doctor. He also found time to serve as a naval reserve officer, retiring as a lieutenant commander with specialty designation in public affairs.

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Veteran Scottsdale, Ariz., journalist Sam Lowe began writing about his adopted state in 1969. He was a reporter and columnist with the Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette for more than a quarter of a century before devoting full time to free-lancing.

He has written a dozen books about the Southwest, is the Senior Travel Expert for Best Western International, and files weekly reports at arizonaoddities.com about weird items and events in Arizona.

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Native Iowan Tom Morrow’s career spanned more than 40 years with daily and weekly newspapers throughout the West when he decided to retire his column from the North (San Diego) County Times. All the while, he chronicled his many journeys around the globe.

During a break from newspaper work, he was the Hotel del Coronado communications vice-president before opening his own advertising and public relations agency. He has taught and lectured on those topics at Mira Costa College and Cal State San Marcos’ Elderhostel program. He has been named “Small Business Advocate of the Year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration and “Mr. Oceanside” by a City Council resolution.

He is the producer of “Living Legacies,” a KOCT-TV series of half-hour interviews with local residents reviewing their activities and accomplishments, and has written a handful of novels and books that can be viewed at tomorrowsnovels.com.

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Through her “Travelin’ Sandy” column, Charleston, S.C.-based Sandy Katz has employed words and photographs to transport readers to hundreds of destinations. Her articles have appeared in AAA Today, Sterling Magazine, Florida Travel, and Islander Magazine as well as several regional newspapers and magazines.

She has covered theater performances and musical events for the Charleston Daily Post and Courier since 1984 and written restaurant reviews for several local and regional publications. Professional affiliations include membership in the American Theater Critics Association and the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association.

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Along with writing newsmaker profiles and op-ed pieces, Marlene Fanta Shyer has been busy visiting destinations around the world and bringing her impressions to the printed page.

She has covered destinations here and abroad but still has a special spot in her heart for what makes up and is happening in America. In addition, she is the author of 17 books, two television screenplays, a memoir, and more than 100 magazine articles. She is the mother of three grown children and lives in New York City.

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Free-lancer Joan Rattner Heilman is a former magazine editor who has written more than a dozen books and hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles and columns. She specializes in the natural world, health, and travel.

Her “Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can’t Get Unless You’re Over 50″ has sold more than 1 million copies. Among other books she has in print are “Diabetes Survival Guide” published by Random House and “Bluebird Rescue” by Firefly.

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During more than 40 years as a travel writer, Victor Block has visited more than 70 countries.

He is the author of and contributor to several guidebooks and his articles have appeared in dozens of publications, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Travel & Leisure, and numerous airline magazines.

Among his honors are several writing awards from the Society of American Travel Writers and North American Travel Journalists Association, both of which he belongs to, and the North American Mature Publishers Association.

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Award-winning travel journalist Fyllis Hockmanhas been writing about her journeys for more than a quarter of a century and is still as eager for the next trip as she was for the first.

Her articles appear in newspapers across the country and websites across the Internet.

She has written two guidebooks, “Pelican Guide to Maryland” and “A Photo Journey ofWashington, D.C.,” and contributed to the in-room hotel guide, “Guest Informant.”